Register to Vote Early, Avoid Election Day Lines

The election is just two weeks away and given the nature that is the general election – especially in a presidential year – voters are being encouraged to vote before election day.

Though residents of voting age are welcome to register on election day in New Hampshire, Merrimack Supervisor of the Checklist Margie Petrovic said Wednesday evening that they are encouraging people to take advantage of tonight and Saturday's registration sessions as registration lines on Election Day are expected.

"Four years ago we did over 1,000 same day (registrations)," Petrovic said.

She said they are anticipating similar numbers for this election. At the primary in September, there were only 75 new registrations, Petrovic said.

"We've done 109 in the last three days," she said. "That's throughout the day."

The supervisors of the checklist have been holding registration sessions for an hour each night this week. Residents are also welcome to stop in to the town clerk's office during the day to register. The deadline to register before election day is this Saturday.

There will be one more evening session tonight, from 7-8 p.m. in the town clerk's office and a session from 10:30 to noon on Saturday. To register during the day, the town clerk's office is open from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

The upcoming election is Nov. 6 and the polls are open in Merrimack from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. This election will be held at a single polling location at Merrimack High School. In addition to the supervisors of the checklist, there will be deputized volunteers to help with the registration process to keep lines moving as quickly as possible, Petrovic said, estimating there would be 12 people to handle the task.